Proceedings of the Fifth Session of the Meghalaya
Legislative Assembly assembled after the First General Election

The Assembly met at 9 A.M. on Thursday, the 15th March, 973
in the Meghalaya Legislative Chamber, Shillong.

PRESENT

Prof. R. S. Lyngdoh, Speaker in the Chair, five Minister, two
Minister of State and fifty-two Members.

Mr. Speaker :- Before we begin the business of the
day, may I take the Deputy Speaker and the Secretary with the leave of the House
to go and receive the Governor?

(Voice : Yes, yes )

(The Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and the Secretary left the
Chamber to receive the Governor).

(After a short while, the Governor arrived in a procession).

ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR

Mr. Speaker :- May I now request the Governor to
address the House?

Mr. Speaker and Hon'ble Members,

It gives me great
pleasure to extend to you my warm greetings and hearty welcome to the year's
first session of the House. About a year has elapsed since I addressed you last.
This year, besides being the first year of the full State-hood of Meghalaya is
also of great significance being the 25th Anniversary of our Independence. The
role of Martyrs and Freedom Fighters in the National struggle for freedom
deserves our highest recognition. My Government have honoured the freedom
fighters by presenting them Tamra Pattras and by arranging the grant of pensions
to them in recognition of their suffering during the National struggle for
freedom.

2. All of you are aware of the role played
by our brave young men in the Armed Forces in bringing the last Indo-Pak
conflict to a successful culmination leading to the emergence of Bangladesh as a
free country. My Government have taken up a scheme to extend various concessions
and to give cash grants to the recipients of various awards as a token of
recognition of their valour in the battle field.

3. In accordance with our National Policy,
my Government are committed to the objective of economic development and
eradication of poverty, illiteracy and disease. The Government have put forth
their suggestions for a new strategy and defined their objective of development
in their approach to the Fifth Five Year Plan. Apart from aiming at elimination
of poverty and fulfillment of a "Minimum Needs Programme", the State's
Fifth Plan would aim at greater employment generation and bringing the level of
per capita income in the State to the National average. The removal of imbalance
betweens the different areas, and greater attention to "more backward"
areas of the State will be the other important plan objectives. The actual
achievement of these objectives would depend upon the availability of resources
and the ultimate size of the Plan.

4. The preceding year has been one of
considerable turmoil in the neighbouring State of Assam following the agitation
over the medium of instruction. The situation was fraught with the serious
potentiality of occurrence of incidents in Meghalaya and during the period of
disturbances, considerable tension prevailed in the State particularly in the
Town of Shillong. It is a matter of great satisfaction that nothing un-toward
happened in Meghalaya during the entire period. It is regretted that our border
with Bangladesh has been the scene of occasional clashes. These have been
promptly brought to the notice of the Government of India for necessary action
and undertaking of corrective measures. During last November, a hartal was
organised in Shillong by certain groups of people to press for absorption of all
the tribal employees affected by the shifting of the Capital of Assam Government
to Gauhati, in the jobs under Meghalaya Government. The situation was handled
well and there was no breach of peace or disorder. The industrial peace in
Meghalaya was maintained except for some trouble at Cherrapunjee Cement Factory
last year which lead to the declaration of a lock-out in October by the
management. However, normal functioning of the Plant was restored within a short
period of time. The question relating to the establishment of the proposed
Central University at Shillong also lead to unrest among the student community
in the State. Apprehensions were expressed regarding the nature and jurisdiction
of the University, its medium of instruction and other aspects of its
functioning. The matter was taken up with the Government of India with a view to
ensuring that the educational interests of the people of the State will be
safeguarded and the proposed University will be established keeping in view its
essential character as a University for the Hill areas of North-Eastern India as
originally envisaged in the recommendations of the Wadia Committee. It is
expected that the Bill providing for the setting up of the Hills' University
will be introduced and passed during the current session of Parliament. In this
connection my Government deeply appreciate the co-operation extended by the
Nagaland Assembly in the adopting the necessary resolution for facilitating the
passage of the Bill.

5. By and large, the conditions on the
State's boundary with Assam were peaceful. However, there have been a few
incidents at Mawtamur Area and on the Jaintia Hills, Mikir Hills Border. The
Khasi and Garo villagers in the Districts of Kamrup and Goalpara in Assam living
in the area contiguous to Meghalaya have expressed concern over their
educational and cultural interests in the context of the increasing emphasis on
the use of Assamese language in the offices and educational institutions in
Assam.

My Government have
been making earnest efforts to settle the question relating to the boundary
between the Mikir Hills and Jaintia Hills border by mutual consultation with
Assam. In accordance with the said policy, two meetings were held at the
Minister's level and in the last meeting, it was agreed that the officers of
both the Governments would study the population figures of Mikris and non-Mikris,
tribe-wise, in the Block I and II of the Mikir Hills District and furnish their
findings for discussion between the two Governments. The figures are being
collected and it is hoped that the matter will be settled by both the Government
by mutual consultation in the interest of the maintenance of good relations and
the welfare of the population living on the border of both the States.

6. As Members are aware, on the attainment
of Statehood and the full transfer of the territory of Shillong Municipality and
Cantonment to Meghalaya on 21st January, 1972, the responsibilities of the State
Government have increased considerably. My Government have initiated various
measures for strengthening the administration with a view to equipping the
administrative machinery better for discharging the increased responsibilities
consequent upon the attainment of full State-hood under the North-Eastern Areas
(Re-organisation) Act, 1971. Two new Sub-divisions have been created one at
Simsanggiri in the Garo Hills District and the other at Nongstoin in the Khasi
Hills District. A new Administrative Unit is being set up at Nongpoh and
an officer is being posted soon who will be in charge of the Administrative
Unit. With a view to enabling better contact with the people and extending the
administration to interior areas and in view of sparseness of population and
difficulties of terrain, my Government propose the creation of 4 new
Sub-divisions, few more administrative units, and 2 more Districts in the State
during the next five years' period and the VI Finance Commission is being
requested, inter-alia, to keep the requirement in this regard in
consideration while making its recommendations. With a view to strengthen the
Judicial machinery, my Government have constituted the courts of the District
and Sessions Judge and of the Assistant District and Session Judge at Shillong.
The Honourable Gauhati High Court has been pleased to spare the services of two
Judicial Offices for appointment as Presiding Officers of the above Courts.

With a view to
increasing the yield from Excise revenue and rationalising the system of excise
administration in the State, certain measures are under contemplation of the
Government. It is proposed to grant licences to the out-stills in the areas of
various Syiems and other Chiefs in the State and to invest them with powers
regarding detection of excise offences in consultation with the District
Councils.

The work relating
to separation of various services from Assam and setting up of our own services
has also been started.

7. My Government are seized of the problem
relating to the absorption of the tribal employees from Meghalaya at present
serving under Government of Assam who would be affected by the shifting of the
Capital from Shillong. With a view to providing adequate employment
opportunities to such employees and to the educated unemployed in the State, the
Government have adopted a recruitment policy under which certain proportion of
the vacancies at the level of Lower Division Assistants and similar posts in the
Secretariat and Offices of the Heads of Departments have been kept reserved for
direct recruitment while the rest are being filled up by absorption of the
tribal employees at present working under the Assam Government. Taking into
consideration the requirements for expansion of administrative machinery, the
Government propose to create a number of additional posts at various levels
which will, inter alia, help in solving this problem to some extend. The
State Government have also requested the Government of India that while filling
up vacancies in Central Offices in Shillong, the case of tribal employees
hailing from Meghalaya should be sympathetically considered. State Government
have also been pursuing with the Government of India the question of setting up
of new offices of the Central Government at Shillong with a view of coping with
the situation created by the shifting of the Assam capital. The matter relating
to the taking up of a scheme for imparting training in Accounts to the tribal
employees at present working in Assam Government with a view to facilitating
their absorption in the proposed Defence Accounts Office to be set up at
Shillong is being pursued with the Government of India. A Special Cell has
been set up in the Personnel Department to take follow-up measures regarding
absorption of the tribal employees. A Crash Programme for increasing employment
opportunities in the State both for the educated unemployed persons and for the
tribal employees at present working under the Assam Government, has been sent to
Government of India for sanction and making available financial assistance for
the implementation of the schemes.

The State
Government are aware of the situation and the temporary set-back to the economy
which may result due to the shifting of the Assam Government capital from
Shillong and propose to take measures in this connection.

8. The problem of increasing unemployment
particularly among the educated youth has been causing serious anxiety to my
Government. Apart from continuing the special schemes for employment programme
in rural areas, a crash employment scheme for educated unemployed persons has
been sent to the Government of India of which I have made a mention earlier. It
is proposed to utilise the programme relating to the fulfillment of
"minimum needs" for the purpose of creation of more employment
opportunities as advance for the Fifth Five Year Plan. My Government propose to
set up a suitable machinery under a State-man-power officer for exploring
further avenues of employment, arranging for proper training and for ensuring
follow-up action in regard to the schemes for employment generation. The
existing machinery of employment directorate will continue to function with such
strengthening as may be felt necessary.

9. The State has a very large area on the
border with Bangladesh. The population in these areas had traditional
association with the economy of Bangladesh. As Members are aware the requirement
for the development of the areas has not been met adequate so far. The economic
condition in the border areas showed serious deterioration with the suspension
of the border trade. The Government took up test relief measures in the border
areas and also initiated schemes for marketing of border produces on an
emergency basis. The Scheme for transport subsidy in the border areas is being
continued. My Government have also taken up this matter with the Government of
India and it is hoped that the border trade will be resumed and the border Hats
will be reopened soon. It is proposed to make adequate provision for development
in the border areas in the Fifth Plan of the State. The Government of India's
sanction to the integrated project for the development of border areas will
facilitate the rehabilitation of the economy of these areas.

10. My Government have initiated measures
for improving the machinery for Planning and Development in the State. A State
Planning Board has been set up under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister.
District Planning Boards are being set up and District Planning Officers are
being appointed in each district with a view to facilitating the formulation of
need-based district plans and ensuring better supervision over implementation of
Plan Schemes. The question of reorganising Block Development Committee is also
under consideration of the Government. With a view to enabling greater
participation of the District Councils in the developmental activity, it is
proposed to entrust specified plan schemes in various sectors of development to
the District Council. An assessment of the Administrative machinery of the
District Councils and other relevant factors is being made with a view to
implementing the decision at the earliest.

11. The Plan Outlay likely to be spent
during 1972-73 is assessed at Rs.8.08 crores. The size of the Annual Plan for
1973-74 has been fixed at Rs.12 crores. The question of making available to the
State Government increased finances for additional requirement consequent upon
the attaining of full State-hood by Meghalaya and for share in the State Level
Schemes of the composite State of Assam is being pursued with the Government of
India.

12. The State Government have forwarded to
the Government of India, Special Development Programmes outside the Plan. The
implementation of the Programme relating to grouping of villages in Garo Hills,
has been accepted in principle and it has been agreed to take up to a Pilot
Project for the purpose during the next year. The integrated scheme for
rehabilitation of the economy of the border areas in the State is still under
consideration of the Government of India. With a view to preparing master plans
for development of Shillong, Tura and Jowai towns, initial steps have been taken
and officials from the Government of India visited the State several times with
a view to advising the State Government in the matter. A Town Planner has been
appointed along with necessary complement of the staff to undertake the
programme of Urban Development in the State. It is proposed to take up
implementation of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme with a L.I.C. loan.

13. Measures undertaken by my Government
for improving agricultural production have shown results. The Government will
continue to give priority to the development of Agriculture in the State. The
programme in the agricultural sector relating to promotional efforts
popularising improved agricultural practices and ensuring adequate and timely
supplies of agricultural inputs, is being continued. The programme relating to
demonstration in cultivators' field, land reclamation, is also being continued.
Adequate emphasis is being laid on the programme relating to land reclamation,
minor irrigation, provision of research facilities, etc. My Government also
continue to place emphasis on the Horticultural Development by strengthening the
machinery for implementation, establishment of progeny orchards and other
similar Schemes.

14. The programmes undertaken through the
Block agencies are proposed to be continued. Apart from the usual schemes, the
programme relating to improving the nutrition of the vulnerable sections of the
population in the State is being continued. The Crash Scheme for increasing
rural employment opportunities taken up under a Central Programme will also
continue.

The co-operative
movement provides the main support for agricultural development by extension of
credit facilities and taking up the task of organisation of the cultivators into
societies expected to discharge the function of distribution of credit as well
as marketing. The co-operative movement in the State is progressing steadily.
The total loaning of the Co-operative Apex Bank during 1972-73 for agricultural
operations is expected to reach the level of Rs.75 lakhs. My Government are
paying due attention to the functioning of the Consumers' movement and other
aspects of co-operative development in the State. It is proposed to set up a
State Ware-housing Corporation with a view to ensuring adequate facilities for
scientific storage of food-stuffs.

15. The Government are seized of the
problem of the rising prices and the necessity for making available the
foodstuffs and the articles of daily necessity at reasonable rates. With a view
to keeping check on rise in prices, the government have promulgated the
Meghalaya Food-stuffs (Prohibition of withholding from sale) Control Order,
1972. The allotment of rice, wheat and sugar to the State is being done by the
Government of India. The State Government have also accepted the schemes for the
distribution of cheaper varieties the scheme for the distribution of cheaper
varieties of cloth through the Co-operative Societies. At the instance of the
State Government, the Food Corporation of India has agreed to open godowns at
various places in the State.

16. Communications play an important role
in the development on infra-structure for improving the economy of the State.
The programme of road development undertaken by my Government has the object of
achieving a coordinated roads net-work with a view to sub-serving the needs of
marketing of agricultural produces, industrial development and other
requirements for improving the economy of the State apart from providing
transport facilities to the various areas of the State.

Adequate attention
is being paid towards the improvement of the transport system in the State.
Apart from continuing the nationalised routes which are at present being
operated through the Assam Meghalaya State Road Transport Corporation, the State
Government have commenced services departmentally on six routes. The
Government have decided to take over the functions at present being performed by
the Corporation on Gauhati-Shillong route, in a phased manner and an officer is
being appointed to work out the details.

17. In spite of the various handicaps,
there has been some progress in the field of industries. The Meghalaya
Industrial Development Corporation which has been set up recently has started
functioning. The Corporation has participated in a joint venture for the Supply
of Lime Stone to Bangladesh through Komorrah Lime Stone Mining Company Ltd. It
is also proposed to set up another joint venture under the name of Meghalaya
Essential Oils and Chemicals Company Ltd. Considerable progress has been
achieved in regard to the setting up of the project. A feasibility report on
integrated Clinker and Cement Project in Garo Hills is under preparation. On the
basis of a preliminary study, an application for the Industrial Licence for the
Project has already been made to the Government of India by the Meghalaya
Industrial Development Corporation. At the request of the State Government, the
Industrial Development Bank of India is undertaking preparation of project
reports in respect of manufacture of Calcium Carbide, Calcium Carbonate and
Hydrated Lime. The Scheme for re-starting of the Meter Factory has been received
and is being examined. The main Schemes proposed in this Sector are the setting
up of Industrial Estates and continuation of the Package of incentives for the
entrepreneurs. The Government attach due importance to the development of the
small-scale industries and propose to encourage sericulture, weaving and other
cottage industries.

18. My Government propose to continue the
various schemes relating to improvement of medical facilities in the State. It
is proposed to set up a pharmacists training school. The programme proposed for
the next year includes the setting up of more primary health centres and
provision of necessary equipments, etc. in the various hospitals. With the
measures initiated earlier, the position relating to the availability of Doctors
has shown improvement.

In the field of
education, emphasis is being laid on the qualitative improvement and expansion
at all levels. It is proposed to set up a Board of School Education for the
State. The Government have accepted the national objective to introduce
universal education in the age group of 6 to 11 by 1975-76 and in the age group
11 to 14 by 1980-81. However, in view of the peculiar conditions in Meghalaya
namely sparseness of population and shortage of teaching personnel, the
achievement of the aforesaid objective with the stipulated time may be difficult
in spite of the best efforts of the Government. Considering the factors and
conditions in Meghalaya, the State Government also propose to start residential
schools.

19. I would like to refer in brief to some
of the salient features of the development programmes in the other sectors. The
development of forests is being given due attention by maintenance and expansion
of the State Reserved Forests as well as by undertaking the necessary measures
for plantation, re-forestation, etc. through the District Councils. The schemes
relating to improvement in the Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Poultry sectors
are being continued. The Indo-Danish Project for cattle development is making
satisfactory progress. The programme of the Soil Conservation Department
relating to the reclamation of land by terracing on slopes and by introduction
of cash crops is being continued.

The programme for
Rural Electrification and development of power generation is being implemented
through the State Electricity Board which is common for both Assam and
Meghalaya. The State Government have appointed two consultants to advise the
Government on the proper set-up for power development in Meghalaya. A beginning
has been made towards taking up the programme of flood control in the State by
setting up a Flood Control Board and taking up of several schemes in this
sector.

The improvement of
water supply in rural areas is an essential part of the development programme
towards fulfillment of the "minimum needs" of the people. Apart from
the schemes included in the State Plan, the Public Health Engineering Department
has also been executing a Central Sector Programme for accelerated water supply
in rural areas. My Government are keen to ensure supply of clean drinking water
in each village but the difficulty of terrain, sparseness of population and
shortage of technical personnel and materials are standing in the way of speedy
achievement of this objective. The Government propose to take all possible steps
with a view to removing these impediments and accelerating of the programme.

20. My Government attach due importance to
the functioning of the District Councils. Elections to the Jaintia Hills
District Council have recently been completed and the new District Council has
started functioning. The District Councils are being assisted for discharging
their functions in regard to the primary education as well as for undertaking
developmental schemes of their own. The Government has decided to place the
services of Sub-Inspectors of Schools at the disposal of the District Councils.
A post of Additional Deputy Inspector will be created in each District and the
incumbents of these posts will be on deputation to District Councils for
supervising the work of Sub-Inspectors and for attending to the work of
disbursement and utilisation of Government grants and for discharging other
similar functions. The Government will bear the expenditure in connection with
the salaries and allowances of these posts.

The Shillong
Municipal Board is being assisted by the Government for taking up various
schemes and improving its functioning. Elections of the Board will be held as
soon as delimitation of the Wards and other formalities are completed.

With the emergence
of Bangladesh the evacuees have gone back but the work of the Relief and
Rehabilitation Department will continue for finalising accounts, settling
pending matters and completing the rehabilitation of pre-1971 refugees. It is
proposed to organise a directorate of labour, employment and craftsman training
as well as to set up inspectorates of boilers and factories with a view to
enabling the discharge of necessary functions of the State relating to these
spheres.

21. During 1972-73, the State had its share
of natural calamities. These was an unprecedented flood in several parts of the
State causing loss of lives and damage to properties and standing crops. In
order to alleviate the hardship of the people, the relief measures in the shape
of gratuitous relief and test relief schemes were taken up in the flood-affected
areas of the State. There was also an acute scarcity of food in certain areas
due to failure of crops in 1971-72. Some test relief schemes were sanctioned.

22. One of the items of the programme for
celebration of the 25th Jayanti of Independence as decided upon at the national
level relates to the subject of land reforms and the date allotted for this item
was 11th September 1972. On the said date the Chief Minister convened a meeting
of all the Members of Legislative Assembly and the Members of District Council
of Khasi Hills in Shillong to discuss this subject and other allied mattes
relating to the land system in Khasi Hills. As Members are aware most of the
land in the State is not cadastrally surveyed and undertaking of survey
operations and proper building up of a system of land records is necessary for
ensuring flow of agricultural credit and increasing agricultural production. In
accordance with the consensus in the meeting the Government propose to set up a
Commission with a view to studying the land problem and making necessary
recommendations for Khasi Hills District. As far as Garo Hills District is
concerned, the District Council has already taken up a programme of land reform
measures.

23. The North Eastern Council was formally
inaugurated by the Prime Minister on the 7th November 1972, with the Governor as
the Chairman of the Council. It is hoped that the Government of Meghalaya will
get its due share of assistance from the Council towards the taking up of the
schemes which have a bearing on the development of the region as a whole.

As you are aware
the Sixth Finance Commission has started functioning. This will be the first
occasion when the financial needs of the State will be comprehensively assessed.
It is expected that Meghalaya will get a sympathetic and just consideration from
the Commission in view of its backwardness and special problems.

24. Apart from financial bills, following
measures will be placed before the Assembly during the session :-

1.
The Meghalaya Board of School Education Bill, 1973, and

2.
The Meghalaya Repealing Bill, 1973.

25. I have briefly referred to the
important developmental activities and the steps which my Government have taken
or propose to take in order to bring about accelerated economic development. My
Government are committed to the objective of elimination of poverty and ensuring
growth of the State towards prosperity, well-being and all-round development of
Meghalaya. I am confident that with the active co-operation of all of you, we
shall be able to discharge our responsibilities and face boldly the challenge
that lies ahead.

I wish all of you
and the people you represent all happiness and prosperity and hope that your
deliberations in the House will fruitfully contribute towards achievement of our
declared goals.

J A I H I N D

MOTION OF THANKS ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS

Mr. Speaker :- I have received a notice of motion of
thanks on the Governor's Address from the hon. Member, Shri Jormanick Syiem, and
which has been duly seconded by Shri P.R. Kyndiah, M.L.A., I will allow Mr.
Syiem to move the motion on any other day to be fixed for discussion the
Governor's Address.

Shri JORMANICK SYIEM (Mylliem, Scheduled Tribes) :- Mr.
Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that the Members of the Meghalaya assembled in this
session are deeply grateful to the Governor the Address which he has been
pleased to deliver to the House today 15th March, 1973.

Panel of Chairman

Mr. Speaker : - The motion of thanks in moved. The
discussion will take place on any other day to be fixed by the House. Now, I
will take Chairman under Rule 9 of the Assembly Rules of the current session of
Assembly :-

1.
Mr. D. Dethwelson Lapang.

2.
Md. Akromozzamar.

3.
Mr. Stanlington David Khongwir.

4.
Mr. H. Enowell Pohshna.

Now let us pass on
the Item No. 4.

Report of the Business Advisor Committee

In pursuance of
Rule 230 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Assembly, I
now report that I called a meeting of a Business Advisory Committee on the24th
February, 1973 to settle the business for the current Budget Session of the
Assembly, 1973 are the session prior to or after Thursday, the 15th March, 1973
which is a "Recess Day" according to Rule. The word "Recess"
ordinarily refer to Thursday after the Assembly has been summoned and has
transacted its business and does not necessarily refer in any way to the first
day of the summoning of the Assembly. At the same time, the Governor would not
be free on any other day expect on 15th, since he has to address the Budget
Session of many other State Legislatures, viz., Assam, Tripura, Manipur
and Nagaland. The Committee took note note of the circumstance under which our
Assembly had to be summoned on 15th March, 1973 and in view of the provisions
under Article 174 of the Constitution, the Committee was of the unanimous view
that the Assembly may be summoned on this day, i.e., the 15th of March,
1973.

The Government
notice for inclusion of the Supplementary Demands and Supplementary
Appropriation for 1972-73 was received may be Secretariat on 9th March, 1973, i.e.,
after the Calendar for the meetings had already been settled by the Business
Advisory Committee. In order to accommodate this new item, I had to call another
meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on 13th March, 1973 to consider now
this item of business can be fitted in the Calendar for the meetings of the
Assembly. The Committee decided to take up the Supplementary Demands and
Supplementary Appropriation for 1972-73 for transaction on 17th March,1973,
which, however, happens to be a Private Members' Business day and to extend the
House till 7th April, 1973 on which date the Private Members' Business earlier
listed for 17th March, 1973 can be taken up by way of compensation for the loss
of this Private members; Business day. A copy of the revised Calendar has
already been circulated to all hon. Members.

I hope this has
the approval of the House.

(The House agreed).

House Committee

Mr. SPEAKER :- Now let us pass on the Item No. 5.

I appoint the
following hon. Members to the House Committee under sub-rule (1) of Rule 312 of
the Assembly Rule :-

1. Mr. Maham Singh.

2. Prof. Peter Granett
Marbaniang.

3. Prof. Martin Narayan
Majaw.

4. Mr. Francis K.
Mawlot.

5. Mr. Ira Marak.

Mr. Maham Singh
will be the Chairman of the Committee.

Now let us pass on
to Item No. 6. Laying of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Member's Salaries and
Allowance Rules, 1972.

Shri B.B. Lyngdoh (Minister, Finance) :- Mr. Speaker,
Sir, under Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Meghalaya Legislative
Assembly, I lay before the House the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Members
Salaries and Allowances Rules, 1972.

Election of Members to the Estimate Committee.

Mr. SPEAKER :- Let us pass on to Item No.7.

Shri B.B. Lyngdoh (Minister, Parliamentary Affairs) :- Mr.
Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that this Assembly do elect two more Members in
accordance with the provision of Rule 244 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct
of Business of the Assembly, as amended, to the Committee on Estimate to
Function from the date of formation for a period of thirty months.

Mr. SPEAKER :- The motion is moved. Now I put the
question before the House. The question is that this Estimate Committee will
elect two members under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the
Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to function from the date of formation of the
Estimate Committee for a period of thirty months.

(The House agreed to this.)

The date, time and
place for the election of two Members will be notified in the Notice Board by
the Secretary.

Now, I come to
Item No. 8.

Presentation of the Supplementary Demand for Grants and
Supplementary Appropriation for 1972-73

Mr. SPEAKER :- Let us pass on the item of today's list
of business. The Chief Minister will please initiate the obituary references.

Obituary References

Mr. SPEAKER :- Let us pass on the last item of
to-day's list of business. The Chief Minister will please initiate the obituary
references.

Shri WILLIAMSON A. SANGMA (Chief Minster) :- Mr.
Speaker, Sir, I would like to make obituary references to late Shri Chakravarty
Rajagopalachari. Shri Chakravarty Rajagopalachari was a extra-ordinary figure in
Indian Political scene for over three decides. Rajaji played his role in
many different fields with great distinction. He was a statesman, scholar and
man of letters. Born in Thorapalli in Dharmapuri District of Madras, League.
Letter he came under the spell of Mahatma Gandhi and he took a leading part in
the Congress movement. He gave up his legal practice in 1921 and devoted all his
item to public affairs.

In the following
years, when the Swaraj party became the dominant wing of the Congress, he
devoted himself to constructive work in the fields of Hindu-Muslim unity
eradication of untouchability, the Swadeshi movement and Prohibition. In 1936,
Rajaji became the Premier of Madras but reigned in 1939 along with other
Congress Minister when India was forced to participate in the World War II. He
was imprisoned give times while participating in Satyagra has, etc.

In 1942, Rajaji
reigned from the Congress owing to difference of opinion. The post-Independence
years saw Rajaji as Governor West Bengal and as the first Indian Governor
General of India till January 26, 1950. Later he returned to his home State
become its Chief Minister, Rajaji's difference with the ruling party were widely
known and eventually he established a new political party. -The Swatantra
Party-and he continued to lead the party for many years. Rajaji passed away on
25th December, 1972.

Rajaji became a
legend in his life time. To the very last day of his long and eventful life, he
retained unusually vigorous mind and left his imprint on his time. In his death,
the country has lost a great elder statesman and patriot and our national life
will be the poorer for it.

2. Mr. Kaknai Ventakaratnam : Mr. Kaknai
Ventakaratnam, the Agriculture Minister of Andhra Pradesh, passed away on the
25th December, 1972 at the age of 73. He was a veteran fighter who participated
in the Salt Satyagraha. He was active during the Quilt India movement also. He
was elected as M.L.A. in 1955 and 1962. Mr. Ventakaratnam was a man of great
determination and had a long record of service to the people.

Born in 1908 at
Mirzapur, Dr. Ansari had his education at Aligarh. He later went to Switzerland
and then to Paris. He obtained his D.Sc and M.D. degree in Paris in 1936 and
practiced medicine till 1974.

Soon after
Independence he gave up medicine for a diplomatic carrier. He was first
appointed Counsellor in Indian Embassy at Ankara in 1948.

In 1957, Dr.
Ansari was elected to the Lok Sabha. As a Member of Parliament, he served on the
Advisory Committee for External Affairs.

In 1957, he
went to Laos as Chairman of the International Control Commission. He was
appointed Ambassador to Sudan in 1960.

He was appointed
Governor of Orissa in 1968 and held the post till 1971. Dr. Ansari's death is a
great loss to the nation.

4. Mr. Abdul Qayyum Ansari : Mr. Abdul Qayyum Ansari,
Bihar's Minister for Jails and Co-operatives, died of a heart attack on 18th
January, 1973, at the age of 68.

Born on July 1st,
1905, Mr. Ansari was educated at Dehri, Aligarh, Calcutta and Allahabad. He
entered politics in 1920 when he because a delegate to the Calcutta Session of
he Indian National Congress. He was a Member of the Bihar Assembly from 1964 to
1962. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 197_ . He was re-elected to the Bihar
Assembly to in 1972 and joined the Kedar Pande Ministry.

Mr. Ansari was
also President of the Bihar Pradesh Congress organisation and was a pioneer of
the Handloom Industry in Bihar. In his death, Bihar and the country as a whole
has lost a dedicated leader and administrator.

Mr. SPEAKER :- Any other Member, who may like to make
any obituary reference?

Shri MAHAM SINGH :- Mr. Speaker, Sir, I join with the
Leader of the House in paying our respect to Chakravarty Gopalachari and other
distinguished persons of the Nation whom we have lost. Chakravarty a great
political leader, a deep and profound thinker and writer and a great patriot.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, to him and as well as other leaders, who had sacrificed their
lives in fighting form the freedom of out country we are very grateful. It is
through them we have been able to achieve the Independence of our country. He
joined the freedom movement at a very early age and he sacrificed the best year
of his life fighting for the liberation of our country. After Independence he
occupied many high positions with dignity. He was a true democrat and as has
been said by Lord Earl Mountbatten. "He was an ardent believer in
Parliamentary Democracy and was convinced that India need a strong Opposition
Party available to form an alternative Government if elected". It is with
this object, said Lord Mountbatten that he told him he founded the Swatantra
Party after his time as Governor General came to an end. He died at a ripe old
age of 94 but his fertile brain remained active and clear till the last days of
his life. Mr. Speaker, Sir, by his passing away we lost a leader who upto the
last days have always given his views which he considers may be a solution to
the various political problems of our country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also join
with the leader of House in paying respect also to the other leaders Mr. Kakoni
Ventkataratnam, Dr. Shaukatullah Shah Ansari and Mr. Abdul Qayyum Ansari. We
consider the passing away of all these great persons in great loss to our
country.

Shri S.D. KHONGWIR :- Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would also
like to associate myself in paying homage to the great old man of India, Shri
Chakravarty Rajagopalachari whose death has. I am sure, cast a gloom on the
entire country of India. His multifarious achievements and his success in his
life are so numerous. The span of his active participation in life has been so
long that his name has become a legend though yet he was alive. He was a
personality of eternal life. But when he passed away, the entire world was
amazed and failed to understand as to how a man of his capability and after
having been able to lead an active life for so long, could yet die so soon.
Rajaji has been able to distinguish himself as a true and heroic son of India.
He had taken active part during the freedom movement of India and I am sure,
Rajaji had contributed a lot towards the achievement of Independence of the
country. He had been able to distinguish himself in the various offices that he
held during his life time, once as Governor and twice as Chief Minister of a
State. But the most important assignment during his life time that immediately
captures our memory is perhaps as a Governor General of India during the year
1948 to 1950. In his discharge of his manifold responsibilities as a Governor
and Chief Minister he amply exhibited as the first rate in 1955, I am sure that
the history of his life will attract many readers and disciples too. He was a
person of harming disposition and steadfast with the rules of good health. This
probably stood him in good stead and he was able to materialise the
establishment of the new political party. His life was full of struggles and he
even struggled in his sick bed before his death. I feel that in his absence
today, India has been deprived of one of its ablest personage. I also join with
the leader of the House in paying my respect to the other great leaders and sons
of India who have passed away and I am certain that their death has caused a
great loss to the country as a whole.

Prof. MARTIN NARAYAN MAJAW (Mawhati) :- Mr. Speaker,
Sir, I also join the Leader of the House in associating himself with the
sentiments of sorrow and grief particularly over the passing away of Shri
Chakravarty Rajagopalachari, Baharat Ratna, former Governor General of India.
The sad demise of this gentle giant amount men was to be a source of personal
grief and shock. Much has been said in this House of his life and the various
incidents in a long struggle against British Imperialism and in the birth of
this new nation, India. But I would like to point out in addition that while he
had a very quite and gentle way in his dealing with others, his personality was
powerful, his intellectual was scintillating and he was certainly taller than
most of contemporaries that move upon the stages of modern India. Lionell
Fielden, the great author, called him at one time the greatest man in the world,
and our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru referred to him as
possessing fundamentally the highest type of mind in India. To show that he
fought against untouchability and gave his daughter in marriage of Gandhi's son
who belong to a much lower cast than his own case of Brahamanism. I had the
in-esteemable privilege of meeting this great man affectionately know as Rajaji
soon after he had founded the Swatantra Party in 1959. It goes to his credit and
to the type of mind and intellect that he quickly grasped the importance of the
movement for a separate Hills State and as early as 1960 gave us his fullest
support in our movement for a separate Hill State. I remember on one occasion,
Mr. Speaker, Sir, in November, 1961 at the Agra Convention of the Swatantra
Party when I proposed a resolution on the Hills State, he very kindly amended
the resolution to make it more effective a determined and persuaded all the
members of the General Council to the Swatantra Party to support the demand for
a separate State despite the strong opposition from some quarters in the party.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, Sir, our debt to Chakravarty Rajagopalachari is two-fold.
We owe a common debt with the rest of India to him as being one of the creators
of independent India and we also owe particularly this State, our debt to him
for having persuaded his party which was then the second largest party in India,
to give its fullest support to the Hills State movement and it was he who
persuaded the DMK to give us the fullest support of the party that Shri
Annadurai had. It was through Rajaji that we were able to gain the support of
more than 90 members of Parliament in our move for a separate Hills State for
our people. This gentle giant among men kept on writing until the last moment of
his life on matters of public and political interest and retained that clarity
of vision and sharpness of intellect upto his death bed. Few people would be
able to retain control of their mind so effectivly and take interest in
multifarious activities of life as he did. This was possible only for a man like
Rajaji and it will take a thousand years to produce a man like him.

I would,
therefore, associate myself on behalf of my group with all the sentiments of
grief's expressed in this House and offer to his family and all his descendants
our deepest condolence.

Likewise Mr.
Speaker, Sir, I also associate myself with the sentiment expressed by the Leader
of the House on the passing away of the other leaders and sons of India though
all names unfortunately, are not very familiar to us and in some cases, we were
not provided with any list, but we offer our deepest condolence to their
families.

Mr. SPEAKER :- I am at one with the Sentiment
expressed by the Leader of the Hose and other hon. Members over the sad demise
of some outstanding personalities of India who have passed away. It is fit and
proper that we honour in our own small measure, in order that their examples of
dedication and selfless service to the nation shall be for us a beacon light and
guiding spirit for our day-to-day service to our people, whose representatives
we are.

Foremost among the
political elites whom India misses today it the grand old patriarch, the Rajaji.
Very few Indian personalities have achieved so much in the political and social
arena during our living memory of Rajaji has achieved. The House has been
acquainted with the un-paralleled record of service to the nation by Rajaji and
I need not recount them here. But I am sure would not be wrong in my estimation
when I delegate to him a position of one who has transcended politics and one
who is a giant among men. His demise is indeed an irreparable loss to India and
the void created by his death will surely be difficult to be filled up for ages.

The name of Mr.
Venkataratanam came to limelight during the Mulki Rule agitation in Andhra. Even
before this he had his own share of contribution to his people as a Minister and
devoted public servant-loved and respected by his people.

Dr. Ansari needs
no introduction to the Assembly. He proved his mark to only in his parent
profession, that is medicine, but he equally made his presence felt in the
political and diplomatic fields. India is poorer today without him when she is
in greater need of services of persons of outstanding caliber such as his.

Mr. Abdul Qayyum
Ansari happens to be another outstanding figure in Bihar politics whom she had
the ill fortune to lose. He was a prominent member of the Indiana National
Congress and dedicated his entire career to social service for the economic
upliftment of his people.

Hon. Member just
now I received the news of the death of Shri L. Chaoyaima Singh, a sitting
member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. Shri Singh was a prominent member of
the Manipur Legislative Assembly and an able parliamentarian. In his death
Manipur and for that matter the North-East India has lost an astute politician
and a grate public leader.

We can do no more
than pray for the eternal rest and peace for the soul of the deceased and pay
our respectful homage to them for what they had done for the nation. They
sympathy and condolences of this august House are also due to the bereaved
members of their families.

I now request the
hon. Members to be on their feet and stand in attention and observe silence for
two minutes as a mark of respect to the departed souls.

Adjournment

Mr. SPEAKER : - Since there is no more item in to pays
list of business, the House stands adjourned till 9 a.m. tomorrow, the 16th
March, 1973.